Developing an Ethical Communication Framework for Artificial Intelligence Tools in Nigerian Media Organisations

The adoption of artificial intelligence tools in Nigerian media organisations for content generation, news summarisation, image creation, and audience targeting raises ethical communication questions about transparency, authenticity, and audience trust that require professional framework development. This study developed an ethical communication framework for AI tool use in Nigerian media organisations. A framework development methodology was employed, combining a survey of 80 Nigerian media professionals across broadcast, print, and digital organisations on current AI adoption patterns and ethical concerns, with comparative analysis of AI ethics guidelines from the European Broadcasting Union, Reuters, AP, and the Society of Professional Journalists. Survey results showed that 47.5 percent of respondents' organisations were already using AI tools for content-related tasks, predominantly for content summarisation (58.7 percent of AI-using organisations), social media scheduling (52.2 percent), and translation (39.1 percent). Transparency about AI-generated content with audiences was practised by only 31.6 percent of AI-using organisations. Concerns about AI-generated misinformation (76.3 percent), bias amplification (68.8 percent), and job displacement (71.3 percent) were widely shared. The developed ethical framework addresses five dimensions: disclosure standards, editorial oversight requirements, audience transparency obligations, staff impact management, and ongoing ethical review processes. Expert review by twelve media ethics scholars and senior editors confirmed the framework's applicability. Recommendations include mandatory AI ethics disclosure as a condition of NBC licensing and development of an industry-wide AI use charter through NIGERITE.

Keywords: AI ethics, media communication, Nigerian journalism, artificial intelligence, media policy